Ripple is currently preparing anti-quantum security solutions in advance for XRP Ledger. The company stated that this roadmap will be implemented in phases, starting with the establishment of emergency protection measures, followed by testing new algorithms. Both the old and new encryption solutions will be run in parallel on the development network and the test network. The ultimate goal is to promote the upgrade of XRPL's mainnet by 2028.
Promote upgrades in four stages
Ripple divides this plan into four steps. The first step is to establish a quantum risk emergency response plan. If the existing encryption methods fail earlier than expected, users can migrate their accounts to a safer solution without exposing their private keys.
The second step is to test quantum-resistant algorithms. The third step will be carried out in the second half of 2026, by which time Ripple plans to run the quantum-resistant solutions in parallel with the existing encryption methods on Devnet and Testnet, allowing developers to test compatibility and migration processes in advance.
Step four is to transition to the mainnet. Ripple plans to submit a code correction proposal for XRPL in 2028, aiming to promote a switch to a secure system with quantum resistance across the entire network.
Existing features can reduce the difficulty of migration.
XRPL currently has two features that are considered to be beneficial for future upgrades. The first is the key rotation feature, which allows users to change their keys without having to create a new account. The second is a key generation mechanism based on seed, which can help users generate new key materials during future security upgrades.
Ripple also mentioned that these functions themselves do not equate to quantum-resistant solutions, but they can provide the foundational conditions for subsequent migrations and reduce the complexity of rebuilding the account system.
Continued testing in 2026, aiming for the mainnet in 2028.
This project is led by Ayo Akinyele, the Senior Engineering Director of Ripple, with the participation of the cryptography team in its advancement. Ripple has made a key assessment that quantum computing may potentially crack existing encryption systems, including elliptic curve encryption, in the future; therefore, it is necessary to complete the preparations before the risks actually materialize.
According to the current schedule, Ripple's next focus will still be on continuous testing in 2026, with the goal of completing the migration to the mainnet protocol set for 2028.
